Clear Lake (Linn County, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clear Lake |
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Clear Lake, Linn County, Oregon
Mount Washington in background |
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 Clear Lake
Location in Oregon
Clear Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Linn County, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°21′38″N 121°59′33″W / 44.36056°N 121.99250°W |
| Type | natural lake |
| Primary outflows | McKenzie River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 148 acres (0.60 km2) |
| Average depth | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Max. depth | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Water volume | 11,800 acre⋅ft (0.0146 km3) |
| Residence time | 0.5 mo |
| Shore length1 | 3.2 mi (5.1 km) |
| Surface elevation | 3,012 ft (918 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Clear Lake is a beautiful mountain lake located in Linn County, Oregon, in the United States. It's about 86 miles (138 km) northeast of Eugene, Oregon. This special lake has two main parts connected by a narrow section.
The lake gets most of its water from melting snow. This snow comes from nearby Mount Washington and the areas around it. What's really cool is that this snowmelt travels through underground caves for more than 20 years before it finally reaches Clear Lake! The lake also gets water from two small creeks and a large spring called Great Spring. Great Spring is actually where the McKenzie River begins. The McKenzie River is super important because it's the only source of drinking water for the city of Eugene.
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Exploring Under the Water
Clear Lake is known as one of the best places in Oregon for freshwater diving. It's a unique spot to explore beneath the surface.
Discovering Ancient Trees Underwater
About 100 feet (30 meters) deep in the lake, you can find a whole forest of trees standing upright! These trees were covered and killed around 3,000 years ago when a volcano erupted and created the lake. The water in Clear Lake is very cold all year round, staying between 35–43 °F (1.6–6 °C). This cold temperature has helped to amazingly preserve the trees, almost like a natural refrigerator.
Trails Around the Lake
If you love hiking, Clear Lake has a great trail for you!
Hiking the Clear Lake Loop Trail
The Clear Lake Loop Trail goes all the way around the lake. This trail is about 5 miles (8 km) long. It's made up of two parts: the Clear Lake Trail and the McKenzie River Trail. As you hike, you can learn more about the lake, the nearby lava fields, and the forest. The Willamette National Forest provides a special guide to help visitors explore and understand the area.
